Traffic stop turns deadly in San Jose

Chronicle Staff Report

Published 4:00 am, Monday, May 5, 2003

A routine traffic stop in San Jose on Sunday resulted in a police officer hospitalized with a wounded foot and a motorist shot and killed.

The incident began at 5:35 p.m. as the Cinco de Mayo festival in Discovery Meadows had traffic jammed on East Santa Clara St. Two police officers on horseback stopped a beige Lincoln and discovered that two of the car's occupants had felony warrants out for their arrest.

The two occupants were removed from the Lincoln, and as police attempted to handcuff one of them, he broke free and ran back to the Lincoln, said Sgt. Steve Dixon.

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A third officer who was nearby saw the commotion and ran toward the Lincoln to assist. By then, the man had gotten behind the wheel of the car and accelerated into traffic, trying to escape, Dixon said.

The man drove over the foot of the third officer, pinning him against a white Volkswagen rabbit that was driving past, Dixon said.

The pinned officer took out his gun, opened fire and shot the suspect, who was pronounced dead at San Jose Medical Center.

The names of the suspect and the officer, who was also taken to the hospital, have not been released, Dixon said.

The other man who had been taken out of the Lincoln was arrested and was being interviewed as a witness.